1966: I've got to do a little bit better

1966 was scarcely less frantic or successful than 1965. Joe placed a further five songs in the Billboard R&B Top 20, three of them hitting the Top 10, and released two more albums. As per the previous year, Joe’s 1966 hits showed his versatility from sermonizing ballads to the joyful romp SYSLJFM and the super funky Papa was too.

After holding back the new material on The New Boss Joe returned to full flow, writing ten songs on The Love You Save, released in May 1966. The remarkable title song contained some of Joe’s most powerful lyrics and took Joe back to No.2 on the R&B charts. As always absorbing the music around him, You better believe it baby reflected the influence of British guitar groups while I’m a man complimented the Rolling Stones and Roger Miller among others (even James Brown!) Who else in 60's R&B would produce a waltz time sermon on envy (Funny bone) as well as a Walk right in style jug band stomper (Don't let your left hand know)?

SYSLJFM

Wilson Pickett was another new soul man on the block, first scoring big with In the midnight hour in late 1965. In March Pickett hit No.1 R&B for seven weeks chanting his seven digit phone number 634-5789. While the Wicked Pickett was still topping the charts Joe recorded a seven letter response SYSLJFM (The letter song). Joe’s acronym filled song (the title stood for Save your sweet love just for me) was on the airwaves just a month later and quickly became his 6th R&B top 10 hit.

Joe performed the song at the Brooklyn Fox Theatre in April along with four other hits, two of which were issued on the album Murray the K presents. The live version of Hold what you’ve got showed Joe changing the words to acknowledge the young Brooklyn Fox crowd who responded ecstatically.

At the same session as SYSLJFM Joe recorded I’ve got to do a little bit better which became the title track of his next Atlantic album (Joe’s singles were issued on Dial and his albums on Atlantic). The LP was his fourth to be issued in two years.Amazingly for such a level of productivity the quality did not dip one iota. Ten new Tex songs were featured, four of which hit the R&B Top 20. The diversity continues to amaze, this time incorporating a country blues take off (Watch the one) and whistling a la Roger Miller on What me and my baby ain't got.

SYSLJFM had barely left the charts when I believe I’m gonna make it was issued in August 1966. The song, which made No. 8 R&B, was notable in being one of the first to mention the Vietnam war. Joe’s soldier stuck in a Vietnam foxhole was so inspired by his baby’s letter that he shot two mo’ enemy! However the soulful ballad raised the question of whether the soldier himself would come home alive.

Billboard reported London and European dates in June. Once again the shows were cancelled at the last minute – depriving British fans of a Ready Steady Go! TV appearance which might have cemented his reputation in the UK.

Joe’s singles came thick and fast and I've got to do a little bit better was issued in October (making No.20, R&B). Barely pausing for breath, Joe’s next was his take on the Lowell Fulson song Tramp, which he rewrote as Papa was too. Papa hit the charts in December eventually rising to No.15 R&B. Lowell’s own single of Tramp climbed the charts alongside Joe in early 1967 although the biggest hit of all belonged to Otis Redding & Carla Thomas who made No.2 R&B with their snappy, back talking version later in the year. The backbeat of Papa was too has become one of the most sampled sounds in hip hop.

In 1966 Joe had the fame and material success he dreamed of in abundance. He said “I had a pocketful of money, a telephone and a television in the car.” However he was questioning what he saw around him on his constant tours. In 1966 Joe was persuaded by his manager Norman Thrasher, a former member of Hank Ballard’s Midnighters, to visit a MuslimTemple in Miami where he was impressed by the preacher’s message. The Muslims would become increasingly important in Joe’s life although he would not become a member for another two years.